Facing Foreclosure Due to Being Late on Mortgage?

We can help! We buy properties for cash and close in 10 days or less.
Learn How Our Home Buying Process Works & Get Your Offer. 💰

Missed Mortgage Payments Tampa

Understanding your options if you are late on your mortgage payments in Tampa, Florida

Under federal law, mortgage servicers cannot begin foreclosure proceedings until you are at least 120 days behind on your mortgage payments. However, some states have longer grace periods, and Florida is one of them. In Florida, mortgage servicers must wait 90 days after you miss a payment before they can begin foreclosure proceedings.

This means that you can miss up to three mortgage payments in Tampa, Florida, before facing foreclosure. However, it is important to note that this is just the minimum time frame. Your mortgage servicer may begin foreclosure proceedings sooner, especially if you have a history of late payments or if you have not responded to their attempts to contact you.

What happens if I miss a mortgage payment in Tampa? Keep reading…

Learn How We Buy Houses ››


Avoid Foreclosure Due to Missed Mortgage Payments in Tampa

What Happens After I Miss One Mortgage Payment in Tampa?

When you miss your first mortgage payment, it’s essential not to panic because one missed payment doesn’t mean foreclosure is imminent. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Grace Period: Most mortgage lenders provide a grace period, typically lasting 10 to 15 days after the due date. During this time, you can still make your payment without incurring late fees. Review your loan agreement to determine the exact duration of your grace period.
  • Late Fee: If the grace period passes and your payment has not been received, the lender will likely charge a late fee. This fee amount varies, but it’s often a percentage of your mortgage payment. The details should be outlined in your mortgage agreement.
  • Communication from Your Lender: After the grace period, you can expect to receive a notice or a phone call from your lender inquiring about the missed payment. It’s in their best interest to help you get back on track, so they may offer solutions or discuss potential arrangements. It’s crucial to maintain open communication with your lender during this time.

What Happens When My Mortgage Payment Reaches 30 Days Late?

Reaching the 30-day mark after missing a mortgage payment in Tampa intensifies the situation. At this point, more serious consequences begin to unfold. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

  • Notice of Default: Once your payment is 30 days late, your lender may send you a ‘Notice of Default’ (NOD). This formal document serves as a written notice indicating you are in default on your loan. It outlines how much you owe (including late fees) and may provide a specific timeframe for you to settle the outstanding amount.
  • Credit Score Impact: Also, by this point, your lender is more likely to report the missed payment to the credit bureaus. And beware! A single 30-day late payment can cause a significant drop in your credit score. Continuous late payments can cause further declines.
  • Increased Communication: The frequency of communication from your lender or their representatives is likely to increase. They may send additional letters, make phone calls, or even emails, emphasizing the importance of making the payment and discussing potential remedies.
  • Loss Mitigation: Around this time, your lender might introduce the option of “loss mitigation.” This process aims to find a workable solution for both the lender and the borrower to avoid foreclosure. Solutions might include loan modifications, repayment plans, or forbearance agreements, depending on your situation and your lender’s policies.
  • Added Fees: In addition to the initial late fee, more fees might accumulate, such as continued late fees or charges related to the lender’s efforts in collecting the debt. These can add up quickly, making it even more challenging to bring the account current.

What Happens When Your Mortgage is 90 Days Past Due?

By the time your mortgage payment reaches 90 days late, the situation becomes increasingly critical. In Tampa, Florida, as in many places, this period is often seen as a significant threshold in the foreclosure process. Here’s what typically happens at this stage:

  • Stronger Notices: After 90 days, you’ll likely receive a more strongly-worded notice from your lender. This notice is sometimes called a “Demand Letter” or “Notice to Accelerate.” It will state that you need to pay the full past-due amount within a specified time, often 30 days. Failure to do so can accelerate the process of foreclosure.
  • Pre-Foreclosure Review: Lenders will often conduct a pre-foreclosure review, ensuring all documents and efforts to communicate with the borrower have been executed correctly. They will also check if the borrower is protected against foreclosure under federal law or any ongoing relief programs.
  • Preparation for Legal Action: If the lender deems it necessary and all other options and remedies have been exhausted, they might refer your loan to their foreclosure department or a legal firm to initiate the foreclosure process. This step doesn’t guarantee foreclosure but indicates the lender is preparing for it.
  • Loss Mitigation Review: Even at this stage, the lender may still review any loss mitigation applications you’ve submitted. This means if you’ve proposed a repayment plan, loan modification, or any other arrangement, it might still be under consideration. Approval can halt the foreclosure process.
  • Credit Report Severe Impact: A 90-day late payment on your mortgage will further harm your credit score. Additionally, future lenders will view this derogatory mark as a significant risk, making it more challenging to secure credit or loans in the future.
  • Potential Public Record: In some jurisdictions, when a lender decides to move forward with the foreclosure, they may file a public notice with the county. This notice indicates the lender’s intent to reclaim the property. It’s a preliminary step in the foreclosure process and becomes a matter of public record.

What Happens When My Mortgage Payment Reaches 120 Days Late?

Crossing the 120-day late mark is a critical milestone in the mortgage delinquency timeline, especially in Tampa, Florida. At this stage, the ramifications grow even more significant, and the foreclosure process often formally begins. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Initiation of Foreclosure Proceedings: Per federal mortgage servicing rules, lenders generally must wait until a loan is over 120 days delinquent before officially starting foreclosure proceedings. So, once you hit the 120-day mark without making a payment, your lender can, and often will, initiate the foreclosure process.
  • Notice of Sale: If your lender chooses to move forward with foreclosure, they’ll typically issue a “Notice of Sale.” This legal document notifies the homeowner of the lender’s intent to sell the property at auction. The notice will contain details about the date, time, and location of the sale, as well as contact information for the lender and their attorney.
  • Publication of Sale: In many places, including Florida, the lender is also required to advertise the upcoming foreclosure sale in local newspapers or other public platforms, ensuring that the process is transparent and the public is informed.
  • Eviction Notice: Even if you’re not officially evicted at this point, receiving a 120-day late notice and subsequent foreclosure documentation can serve as a sign that eviction might be on the horizon if the situation isn’t remedied.
  • Last Opportunity for Loss Mitigation: Even at this late stage, there might be a small window of opportunity for loss mitigation. Some lenders might be open to discussions for short sales (where the property is sold for less than the owed amount) or deeds in lieu of foreclosure (where you voluntarily transfer property ownership to the lender to avoid foreclosure proceedings).
  • Further Credit Damage: As you can imagine, a 120-day late payment and the initiation of foreclosure proceedings can lead to more severe hits to your credit report, making recovery a longer process.
  • Increased Legal and Late Fees: With the initiation of formal foreclosure proceedings, there will likely be a significant increase in associated fees. This includes legal fees, additional late fees, and any costs associated with the foreclosure sale preparation.

The Foreclosure Process in Tampa, Florida

Understanding the foreclosure process is crucial for any homeowner, especially if you’re facing the prospect of losing your home. In Tampa, Florida, the foreclosure process is judicial, meaning it goes through the court system. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how it works:

  • Notice of Default (NOD): As previously discussed, once you fall behind on your mortgage payments, the lender will send you a Notice of Default. This is an official letter notifying you of your delinquency and demanding payment of the past-due amount within a specific timeframe.
  • Lis Pendens (Suit Pending): If you do not settle the owed amount by the deadline set in the NOD, the lender will file a ‘lis pendens’ with the county clerk. This is a written notice indicating that a lawsuit concerning the property is pending. It marks the official beginning of the foreclosure process in court.
  • Formal Lawsuit: After filing the lis pendens, the lender will then serve you with a foreclosure complaint and a summons. You usually have 20 days to respond. If you don’t answer or if the court rules against you, a default judgment can be entered, expediting the foreclosure.
  • Opportunity for Defense: It’s essential to know that homeowners have rights. If you believe there are reasons you shouldn’t go through foreclosure – for instance, if the lender didn’t follow proper procedures or if you’re protected by federal laws – you can present these as defenses in court. It’s advisable to have a lawyer help you with this process.
  • Summary Judgment or Trial: If there are no disputes over facts, the lender might move for a summary judgment. If granted, this speeds up the foreclosure. However, if there are disputes, a trial will occur. If the court rules in favor of the lender, the foreclosure will proceed.
  • Foreclosure Sale: Once the lender receives a judgment of foreclosure from the court, your home will be scheduled for a foreclosure auction or sale. In Florida, the clerk of the circuit court usually conducts these sales. The highest bidder becomes the new owner of the property.
  • Certificate of Sale and Right of Redemption: After the sale, a certificate is issued to the winning bidder. In Florida, homeowners have a short window, typically 10 days, called the “right of redemption” period, where they can still reclaim their home by paying off the total amount of the judgment plus costs. If this doesn’t occur, the title is transferred to the new owner.
  • Eviction: If you do not vacate the property after the sale, the new owner can seek an eviction notice through the court. Once granted, the sheriff will provide a timeframe, usually a few days, for you to leave the property.

It’s essential to note that the foreclosure process in Tampa, Florida, can vary in length. It might take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on the case’s complexities and specific circumstances. 

Get a Cash Offer and Avoid Foreclosure

If you’re facing foreclosure in Tampa, Florida, you don’t have to go through it alone. We can help you sell your home quickly and for cash, so you can avoid the stress and hassle of foreclosure.

We understand that foreclosure can be a difficult and emotional time. That’s why we offer a fast and easy solution. We can close on your home in as little as 7 days, so you can get the money you need quickly and move on with your life.

Here are the benefits of selling your home to us for cash:

  • Avoid foreclosure: We can help you avoid foreclosure and the negative consequences that come with it.
  • Get a fair cash offer: We offer fair cash offers based on the condition of your home and the current market value.
  • No hassle, no repairs: We buy homes as-is, so you don’t have to worry about making any repairs or cleaning your home.
  • Fast closing: We can close on your home in as little as 7 days, so you can get the money you need quickly.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you sell your home for cash and avoid foreclosure, contact us today. We offer a free consultation and no-obligation cash offer.

Call us today and get started on your path to a fresh start!

We Buy Properties All Over Tampa

Sell My House Fast in Tampa, Florida! We Buy Houses As-Is.

Learn “How We Buy Houses” & Our Process

Step by step 100% transparent process explaining how we buy houses fast!

Meet the Team & Learn About Our Company

Discover the “Why” behind what we do & what makes our “We Buy Houses” company different.

Get a Fast, No Obligation Cash Offer Now!

Get a quick cash offer for your home by completing our form and we’ll get back to you right away 🙂

Sell Your Tampa Property to a Cash Home Buyer Fast

Get My Cash Offer

We buy houses in any condition. We won't ask you to do any repairs or pay any fees. Request your cash offer today to get started!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

What Type of Properties Do You Buy in Tampa?

We can buy all types of properties in Tampa, Florida, including:

  • Single-family homes
  • Multi-family homes
  • Townhouses
  • Condos
  • Apartments
  • Commercial properties
  • Vacant land

We understand that selling a property can be challenging. That’s why we offer a fast and easy solution. We can buy your property for a fair cash price, even if it has back taxes. We will also handle all of the paperwork and closing costs, so you can sell your property with minimal hassle.

If you are looking for a way to sell your property quickly and easily, we encourage you to contact us today. We would be happy to answer your questions and make you a fair cash offer on your property.

Top Rated Local Cash Home Buyers in Tampa

Sell your house without making any repairs. We’ll purchase your home or condo as-is, allowing you to take what’s most important to you and leaving the rest for us to handle!

We’ll buy any home (yes, even an inherited house you’ve discovered is a hoarder house) and eliminate the headaches and stress associated with a traditional home sale.

We Buy Homes, Condos & Townhouses As-Is

We’ve got your back, helping you find the right way out, whatever your situation. Here are common reasons homeowners want to sell their house fast in Tampa, Florida.

Get in touch with us to discuss your situation. We’re here to help! ››

Where We Buy Properties in Tampa

Looking to sell your property fast for cash in Tampa, Florida? We can help! We’re interested in buying properties of all types, from single-family homes to condos. Whether your property needs repairs or is in perfect condition, we’ll make you a fair cash offer.

Hillsborough County:

Hernando County

Sarasota County

Pinellas County:

Polk County:

Manatee County:

Pasco County